When running a business, one of the key indicators of success for your team is how well they work together, and this comes out in the metrics of productivity and efficiency. Like any other machine, it can be judged on how well its takes its input and generates its output. Machines, like car engines, lose much of their efficiency due to “friction”. For car engines this can be mechanical friction (which is why it’s important to change your oil and tighten your belts), but for humans it can be more abstract.

There are many different factors that go into reducing friction within a business process, just as there are many different factors that go into team building and company productivity. Today we will focus on some “low hanging fruit”, i.e.: is your office best equipped to support a well functioning and “frictionless” team?

Optimize your office or workspace productivity with these tips

Whether you are working at the company office, or you have your own home office, it can be difficult to be productive all the time. Some days, you just can’t seem to get yourself to work. Other days, you get distracted and the day runs away from you. If this is a regular occurrence however, you may need to rethink your office space. With these helpful tips, you can upgrade your office and improve productivity all at the same time.

Organize your space

The first step that you can take to improve productivity is to organize your space. This means that everything has a place, and you remove clutter from your area. It is difficult to focus on work if you cannot find it in the many piles of papers and documents everywhere. It is much easier to focus on your work when that is the only thing that you have to focus on. There are plenty of organizers to purchase online, which can help you find homes for your writing utensils, papers, and other important items.

Focus on ergonomics

This has been a rising trend recently, with the advent of “standing desks”, sitting balls, ergonomic office chairs and various other fancy products all claiming to reduce the unhealthy effects of long hours at the computer. These products won’t work for everyone, but it’s important to find what works for you and your team and make these options available for your office workers.

More importantly, don’t expect your team to necessarily know they are being non-ergonomic. Many people don’t realize the inefficiency of their work until they develop some type of repetitive strain injury (like carpal tunnel syndrome). A good way to go about it is to provide them the basics, including a vertical mouse, ergonomic keyboard and an ergonomic chair. Once these bases are covered, ask them some inquiring questions about their comfort level, and adjust to their specific needs.

Create to-do lists

When you are busy working, it can be difficult to keep a track of everything you need to accomplish, and when you need to accomplish them by. And then you have the problem of trying to do too many things in one day, and not being able to accomplish the most important items. In order to help with these problems, creating to-do lists helps you prioritize what is the most important items for you to accomplish, and what your goals are for the day. You can ensure that the most important things get done first, and you can plan to try and complete a reasonable amount of tasks in a day.

Disconnect from social media

Social media is both a blessing and a curse for busy people, especially those who are trying to improve their productivity. On one hand, social media can help you network and connect with other people, expanding the reach of your business. On the other hand, social media can be very distracting, and keep you from working on what you need to complete. It is important that you give yourself a set amount of time to be on social media, and disconnect from social media the rest of the time.

Healthy snacking

For many people, stress snacking can be a very real thing. The other typical response is to not eat at all, because you are too busy. Both of these are not healthy for you, and drain you of energy, so that you feel more exhausted earlier. In order to avoid this fatigue, it is important that you keep healthy snacks around your office, so that you remember to eat, and that you do not stress eat unhealthy foods. But eating healthy snacks, you will give your body the energy it needs to keep working and improve your overall productivity.

Goalcast is an inspiring community for achievers dedicated to helping you improve all aspects of your life. We provide you with practical advice, resources and the motivation to help you realize your full potential.